Sports Brief

ALTA BADIA - Sweden's Matts Olsson claimed the first World Cup victory of his career in the parallel giant slalom Monday. The 29-year-old beat Henrik Kristoffersen in the final by just 0.03sec while Austrian Marcel Hirscher edged out Aleksander Aamodt Kilde by 0.08sec for third place. Kristoffersen moved back above compatriot Aksel Lund Svindal, now third, into the overall World Cup lead but thanks to a 112th podium finish of his career, Hirscher is just 11 points behind in second. Hirscher leads the giant slalom standings but his gap to Kristoffersen was cut to 35 points. It was Kristoffersen's fifth second-placed finish. There was little between the skiers in the final four as Olsson beat Hirscher in the semis by 0.05sec and Kristoffersen pipped his compatriot by 0.07sec.–AFP Medal-winning powerlifters honoured

LAHORE - Pakistan Railways Sports Board (PRSB) honoured its two female powerlifters Sniha Ghafoor and Twinkle Sohail at a reception held here on Tuesday. Pakistan Railways General Manager Fayyaz Ahmad Awan, who is also PRSB president, graced the occasion as chief guest and termed the performance of both the female powerlifters as ‘rare and outstanding’ which has made the country proud. “Both of them put up a dazzling show of skills and technique to underline their talent and to bring good name for the country and their department.” He presented cash award of Rs 50,000 each to both of them besides announcing one hundred percent rise in their salaries to acknowledge their rare medal winning feat in the Oceania-Pacific Powerlifting Championship held in Singapore recently.–Staff Reporter Farhat, Qasim in selection committee

LAHORE - Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) inducted Farhat Khan and Qasim Khan into the national selection committee here on Tuesday. Farhat has resigned as the coach of the national hockey team after the team’s poor performance in the Asia Cup two months ago. Qasim was also part of the national selection committee, which selected the team which took part in the World Hockey League that was held in England last summer. After the team’s shameful defeat in the World Hockey League, the hockey federation dissolved the selection committee and formed the new one, which is now being headed by former Pakistan captain and celebrated centre forward Hassan Sardar while its two other members are Ayaz Mahmood and Mussadiq Hussain.–Staff Reporter Clubs demand fresh election of EZ chief

LAHORE - A number of clubs of East Zone Cricket Association (EZCA) have demanded fresh election of EZ president as they were deprived of taking part in the election process. In a letter addressed to the Pakistan Cricket Board’s Deputy election commissioner Ahmad Shahzad Farooq Rana, the clubs said EZCA secretary Ayaz Khan did not inform them about the letter written by him (deputy election commissioner) regarding the election process for the slot of EZ president. “As per instructions of PCB, Ayaz was bound to circulate the PCB election schedule regarding the EZCA election, which he did not, leaving the field wide open for the unopposed election of his favourite candidate, Najaf Khan, as EZ president,” they said. They appealed the PCB to declare the election ‘illegal’ and announce fresh elections.–APP